The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-24
Clara Detects ali Anachronism in PATHS Gar
men" Costume, but Admits that 1t Added
to the Singers Personal Attractions.
Striking Points in an Easter Fete Which
Was Pronounced a BIG Success.
Extraordinary Performance of the Wife of
Millionaire How Sea Yoyage Helps to
Skater Some of Our Domestic Idols.

New YORK. April % The newest affeetaton
of the Fiftha girls is called the baby stare.
It takes the place of the roguish glance and the
shy croop The operator of pair OF eyes opens
them to their widest. fixes them directly upon
man or any other object, and calmly keeps
them as long circumstances permit. Nei
their ogle nor wink is recognized by the cool
oros thus employed in the infantle act They
seem aware of nothing beyond the merely ocu
lar manifestation. 1t is curious freak, this
baby stare, and it puzzled all observers for a
week or two, until it became comparatively
common among the very swell maidens of the
Hill.
The most remarkable feminine staring has
been lately doue in the church of the Rev. DR..
Heber Newton. whose advanced doctrines have
several times brought him into famous collision
with his Episcopalian bishop. but whose congre-
cation was formerly more intellectual than mod
ish. But fashionable girl strangers became more
numerous from Sunday to Sunday, and these
visitors sweetly requested the ushers to seat
them in the gallery. The reason was simple and
silly. Courtce Pounds pretty tenor of the
Gilbert and Sullivan operas, is allurug portion
of the quartet in the choir, and the girls desired
The pastor has put a stop to that sacrilegions
sort of alteration, however, by issuing order
to admit outside girl to the gallery, except as
the guest of some pew-owner.
The greatly observed vocalist is Patti, whose
Carmen is something of relief to these who
have been accustomed to her in other roles
She wears no dresses with immensely long
trains, which have to be swung and kicked into
recumbent, retrogressive submission. ] noticed
that the men in the audience were not unmind-
full of the fact, and viewed the adoption of an
abbreviated skirt with true operate interest
And yet it was simply walking dress, and
when in repose gave 10 more than reasonable
suggestion of the shape of the diva's foot
am inclined to think that the superficial mascu
line observer would have said that Patti dressed
with reference solely to the natural demand of
the role. AS the cigarette maker in the first
act the colors of her costume were chosen with
the incest taste. and the fit of the dress to her
figure perfection: but nevertheless it was
not in violent contrast to the commoner
tunes worn by the chorus women who were
supposed to be her associates in the factory
The same general effect maintained in the
gypsy scene. tho star never shining to the super
fetal observer by the undue bri!liancy Of her
clothing. But I think I may be allowed the
claim Of looking deeper than the mere surface
of dress, and the first glance at the diva led me
to consult my libretto. The first line of the in
PRODUCTION was this: t'The action Of the opera
takes place in 1920" And yet underneath the
Spanish exterior Of PATHS 1920 costume de-
tected the presence of fully developed 1887 Pa
risian hustle! And the same hustle. or one just
like it. extended the grace of PATHS form beyond
natures limits when she donned gypsy dress.
For my part, think that this costuming
eminently proper. Hang auachronism. One
must look attractive possible when so
much depends upon it in public life.
The fact that Patti was to sing role new to
her made it an ultra-fashonable event, and
every wealthy body felt bound to GO Among
them was the wife Of an out-of-town millionaire
She came near making bigger sensation than
Patti herself. and for time at least eclipsed
the diva She came twenty minutes late. Her
box was next that occupied by the Astors, and
therefore in position to show off it's occupants
to the best advantage. When this lady came
into view, she had gorgeous crimson wrap,
the flashing brilliancy of which it would be
difficult equal She was evidently not aware
| that there is ante-room to each box provided
for the special purpose of removing wraps and
putting the finishing touches to ones toilet be-
fore entering the auditorium. Or, perhaps, she
knew this, but ignored it, and adopted her extra
| ordinary course in order to be seen of ALL 1t
| seems hardly probable that she should be de-
liberately so ridiculous, but the effect was the
same. With her brilliant wrap over her shout
| \ Al al A.
/ short curs of the blcndest blonde she marched
| into the box and proceeded rapidly to the very
front rail. There she paused moment,
and surveyed the house and the stage With an
| expression Of naughty interest. Then she took
| off her wrap ana in so doing she threw her arms
out wide either side, and fourished them,
and the wrap with them. until it seemed as if she
| were waving crimson flag at passive bull.
The attention of every body in the house was di-
rected to her, though there could be few who
were not astonished observers of her dramatic
entrance Her escort, pale, slender young
man, FASTENED to take her wrap and retire it tc
the ante-room, but that did not end the show
| Up to this moment TIE lady had been standing
looking coldly about the house all the time, and
now she sat down with an extravagant swayins
of her body intended to bring her tournure into
safe bearing, and then. frightful to relate, pro
duced from somewhere pair of long gloves
twenty. buttoners, and deliberately put them on
In so doing she stretched her arm vigorously Il
its full length. with many wry look as tn,
gloves pulled on hard, and buttonea buttoned
one after another. until her costume thus
far complete. The house looked on in amaze
ment. but the lady, far from being disconnected
actually seemed to enjoy it. 1t took more thar
ten minutes for her to prepare to attend to tn,
opera. and then the curtain went down on th
first act. and all through the Hobbies, and IN th
boxes and the orchestra chairs, this extraord
mary behavior was more discussed than the per
Torrance of Patti
The feminine section of tall society gave ar
Easter fete in aid of the Hospital and Prison
Association at Delmonico's. Tickets OF admis
sion cost 81 each. The fete was held in the ball
room, IN which flowers were sold, and in the Ii,
tie rooms adjoining ice-cream and coffee were Il
be bought There music in the balcony
but nobody minded that because it was mad
by stringed instruments and was not loud enoug
to interfere with conversation. Three hundre
and six women and fourteen men bought ticket
and went to the fete 1 iot of men hons ut itch